After school programmes

We spark imaginative learning through the extended school day! Our hands-on, one-hour science programmes are themed around a particular area of science and include such topics as rocketry, magnets, polymers, materials and even the science of toys.

Children engage in exciting hands-on activities, watch spectacular demonstrations, participate in enquiry-based discussions and take home things that they have made themselves like model rockets, periscopes, Mad Science putty and more. Mad Science after-school programmes offer children a chance to see just how cool science can be!

During Mad Science classes, pupils participate in a variety of hands-on, inquiry based, themed-activities. The programme typically consists of around 8 classes. Key components are our famous take-home projects. At the end of most Mad Science classes, children will take home an experiment that is directly linked with that week’s class theme.

Mad Science North West is proud to be running our amazing after school enrichment programme in well over 200 North West Primary Schools  this year.

 
Mad Science After-School Programmes:

• are hands-on and enquiry-based
• provide personalised learning through support and stretch for pupils
• are led by qualified and dynamic instructors (all CRB cleared)
• follow quality assured lesson plans
• use unique equipment and original materials
• are age-appropriate and inspire pupils
• are easy to plan and hassle-free to run

 Frequently asked questions

Are your After School Instructors Criminal Records Bureau cleared to work in school?

Yes, we can supply copies of CRBs to schools on request.

Will you cover my science topics before I get to them in class?

Our after school programmes are designed to complement the National Curriculum rather than duplicate what you do in-class. We do offer in-class workshops if you are looking for some new ideas on a tricky or ‘dull’ topic. (We believe there are no dull topics in science – you’d probably expect us to say that though!) Mineral Mania is proving to be a favourite in class workshop with KS2 teachers, click here for more information on workshops.

What will it cost our school to run an after-school programme (ASP)?

Nothing, well better than nothing! If you invite us in to run your ASP we’ll give you a free assembly. We are that Mad about science, every term we give away tons of assemblies and workshops to schools in our area (over £60,000 worth of free school events this school year).

What about risk assessment?

We can provide risk assessment text for our programmes.

What about parents with more than one child at our school?

We provide a discount for brothers and sisters

Could the PTA pay for an after-school programme?

Yes of course if that's what they prefer.

What evidence is there of the effectiveness of Mad Science programmes?

Good question, an independent evaluation of Mad Science (2005) by Char Associates found that Mad Science:

Increased science content knowledge - Pupils who participated in Mad Science experienced a gain of 41.3% in their science content knowledge compared with only 6.4% experienced by comparison group students who did not participate in Mad Science.

Increased interest in science - Pupils participating in Mad Science experienced an increase of 12.22% in their interest in science compared with a 2.3% increase experienced by comparison group students who did not participate in Mad Science.

Increased liking of science - Pupils participating in Mad Science experienced an increase of 5.6% in the extent to which they liked science as opposed to decline of .83% experienced by comparison group students that did not participate in Mad Science.

Increased attitude that science is “fun” - Pupils participating in Mad Science showed an increase of 18.6% in their attitude towards “science is fun” compared with a 1.5% increase in a control group (comparison group of pupils that did not have Mad Science.

 Other Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the assembly?

 45 minutes

Is there any financial commitment?

There is no financial commitment. Your only commitment is to give pupils the Mad Science After School Programme leaflet on the same day as the assembly. We will provide high quality leaflets over printed with the details of your planned After School Programme and we will agree the quantities required with you prior to the assembly.

What if we don’t get enough children?

No problem, you’ve had a free Mad Science assembly and your pupils will have gained some new science knowledge.

What if we get more than 25?

No problem, we usually set up a waiting list for the next term or if there is lots of interest we’ll just put on an additional After School Club. Remember, there is a national shortage of scientists, we need everyone we can get!

Can parents pay weekly?

Sorry, this gets too tricky for both schools and us.

Is it suitable for the whole school?

Yes

Do the children get involved?

Yes, we believe science is about doing. All our assemblies will involve pupils learning about how scientists make predictions (hypotheses) and then test them (experiments). Your pupils will be asked to make predictions and we’ll even have some ‘young scientists’ come to the front to help our Mad Scientist test them out!